Cruises International makes waves in MICE market

ROYAL Caribbean and Celebrity
Cruises have expanded their
offering to the corporate
market by making all itineraries
that are open for booking
available for the MICE market.
The decision follows both
cruise lines seeing a rapid
increase in interest in training
and meetings, corporate events
and incentive trips at sea over
the past few months.
“One reason I believe we
have become popular for
MICE trips is because we
offer short three- and fournight
itineraries,” says
Crystal Campbell, senior
manager of Global Charter
Sales and International
MICE of Royal Caribbean,
who was speaking at a
Cruises International product
update at The Palazzo Hotel,
Montecasino, on March 22.
Among the perks of an allinclusive
MICE trip on a Royal
Caribbean cruise ship is the
option of Royal Suite Class
accommodation featuring lavish
interiors, access to special
areas of the ship and ‘Royal
Genies’ at passengers’ service.
All ships also offer conference
venues, bars, lounges and
restaurants for hire, as well as
high-speed VOOM Internet.
Crystal says the latest
entertainment on Royal
Caribbean ships is ideal for
team outings. Options include
musicals such as Cats,
Saturday Night Fever, Mamma
Mia, and We Will Rock You;
AquaTheatre Extravaganzas;
and Dreamworks Experience
shows such as Shrek and ice
shows.
Celebrity Cruises has similar
offerings, says Alexis Puma,
manager of Charter Sales
and International MICE. The
cruise line offers its own allinclusive
packages that feature
unique conference venues,
bars, lounges and restaurants
as well as shore excursions
such as Mardi Gras, The Open
Championship and Carnival
in Rio.
From December 2018,
Celebrity Cruises will offer an
Edge Class, which features
an expanded stateroom with
a ship-climbing ‘Magic Carpet’
platform. With the push of a
button, the Magic Carpet’s
floor-to-ceiling windows retract
like a garage door, leaving only
a glass railing between the
traveller’s living room and
the sea.
In addition, both cruise lines
can put together special onand
off-shore excursions for
MICE purposes.